Former LaSalle star has shot at Super Bowl glory

Drive, tenacity, determination and courage. Those words of encouragement line LaSalle High School's weight room.

Those same words also describe Garret Celek, a rookie tight end for the San Francisco 49ers who will play in the Super Bowl, his former coaches said.

"He's a grinder, and coaches love grinders," said his former coach, Tom Grippa.

After following the footsteps of his older brother, Brent, to the University of Cincinnati, he joined him in the NFL, where he's playing for a championship in his first professional season.

"Knowing we got a guy on the sideline that will get in the game periodically from time to time, it gives us somebody to root for," said Tom Doeger, a position coach for LaSalle.

Celek transferred to Michigan State to follow former UC coach Mark Dantonio, and he went from playing left tackle in high school to tight end in college.

"(The 49ers) are a power running football team with (Frank) Gore, one of the best backs in the NFL, and they needed a blocking tight end," Grippa said. "The tight end that starts for them is more of a wide receiver, and so Garrett filled a huge role on their football team."

Celek is fulfilling a dream for his former coaches and teammates.

"I'm real proud of him, and he's a great example of what Lancers are all about," Grippa said. "He grinds away, and we have many kids from our football program just like that."

They also recognize just how special Celek's accomplishment is.

"The amount of people that make it to the level that he has are so far and few between that it's just, there's a lot of pride for us and admiration for his work ethic," Doeger said.

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